More Awesome Stuff

Hey guys! I'm trying to find funny ways of earning money. I stumbled across a few, like adult baby caregiver that were a little out there for me. Google it though if you're not afraid of seeing strange stuff. Anyway, swagbucks is a great way to earn free gift cards by using their search engine. Scratch what I said about googling the adult baby caregiving thing, swagbucks search it instead! I used swagbucks years ago and earned $35 in amazon gift cards in 2 months, but stopped using it after Christmas. I'm getting back into it now though! Got to make the holidays a little less tight. Likewise, there is a site called Shopstyle that allows you to share fashion with the world for a share of the profits. This is one example. You can even share the fashions on pinterest and create a passive income stream! I would recommend checking it out if you enjoy the latest clothing and need a way to fund that obsession. Let me know of any other really easy ways to make a little cash!

A New Chapter- Online Shopping!

It sounds so cliché to talk about a new chapter in one's life, but it really is true, isn't it? One minute you can be living your life, expecting everything to continue as usual, and the next minute everything is flipped and you have to find yourself all over again. It's an amazing process, getting reinvented and finding new passions.

I want to share some of my latest favorite things with you.

Etsy is a big one for me. I love seeing everything on there, from the cool, homemade items to the vintage toys and clothes people find and resell. It's amazing! Here is one of my favorite shops that specializes in paper, ephemera, and stuff for junk journals. This one specializes in vintage jewelry, while this one sells stained glass pieces. Too much good stuff!


JustFab is another awesome place to score some online deals! I found 2 pairs of boots for a total of $39.95. I love a good deal, so I know I'll be back the next time I need some new clothes.

Seeds are another big one for me, though that's not really a new interest. Anyhow, Baker Creek is a wonderful company with reliable seeds. I haven't had any trouble getting things to germinate, and the prices are good for heirloom seeds. 

Patreon is another cool site. Artists and creators (like authors and podcast er, people) ask for patrons and in exchange offer early looks at what they're working on, and sometimes promise to send you cool stuff. I love getting mail, so I have several artists that I am following.

I have an addiction to beautiful fabric. I enjoy sewing, but don't do it very often, so like many women, I have an enormous stash. This site feeds my addiction. They allow people to create their own fabrics, or you can purchase someone else's unique creation.

Back in the day, I used to make a lot of my own jewelry. Bead stores were easy to find, and I bought most of my stuff in local shops, but I always dreamed of shopping at wholesale price. I've been taking an interest in making jewelry again, so I've been checking out this site.

Fall is Here

So much has been happening. My little guy is in school now, leading to some very early mornings with lots of racing around. He likes it though, and is excited for all of the new things he will learn. I'm so proud of him!

My little girl is getting ready to start preschool, though I'm not sure how aware of that she is. I think she'll enjoy it. Mama is going to be in shock when they both are away.

I have the feeling I will keep busy though. I have a lot to do around the house, my work keeps me busy, and there are lots of fun side projects like this. I always have something I'm working on!

The weather has been gorgeous lately and I have been dreaming of going apple picking with the kids. A pumpkin patch next month is also on my radar. Their Halloween costumes are already picked out. I feel somewhat inspired this year! Not quite inspired enough to make the costumes though. There just isn't the time right now, but someday I'd like to.

So, the goal of this blog was to help me achieve my goal of finding a homestead and living simply. I feel like I'm in about the same place I was 2 years ago, but I do have clearer ideas on how to downsize and be free. I'm dreaming of a life with fewer possessions. Nothing like a good garage sale to do that. It's been a couple of years since having a sale, but I bet I could have another $1,000+.

My biggest tip for making a lot at a garage sale is having a wide variety of items. You need a large quantity of things, but they really do need to be diverse. People come to sales together and will drag someone away if they don't see anything good. You need to have things that will appeal to all sorts of people so everyone who shows up will buy something. Oh, and have items that are worth a little more. The sale we had that hit $1,400 had a few Cutco pieces, instruments, furniture, electronics, and all of the usual knickknacks.

Dreary Weather and New Adventures

Fall is settling in with cloudy skies and raindrops galore. We had quite a few hot days this summer, but now it's back to the normal Pac NW grey sky that we all adore and secretly miss during the summer.

I've been enjoying tea even more now. The curtains are pulled back and I can feel the coolness in the air, but my tea is hot. Ahhh! The kids are headed to school next week, so I'll be all alone with temptations like books, shopping, and baking fall treats, but I'll likely be focused on work. I've been taking on a lot of interesting new tasks and business opportunities.

I'm still working in the SEO field, which is fantastic! If I find myself with a little spare time, I may write a bit on how to get started. I'm also dabbling in selling on Etsy with some close friends. We're having a great time with it and hope to inspire other crafters working with mixed media.

Tiny Homestead

The end of August brings such joy with a bountiful harvest. I'm not much into canning yet, but I hope to preserve my food with it someday. In the meantime, we just enjoy our produce fresh.

I'm a bit late this year, but enjoying the thought of a lovely fall garden. The temperatures are really bouncing around, but should start to cool off soon. Looking forward to lots of tasty greens.

I've been daydreaming about some of the projects I want to accomplish in the future. Lots of odds and ends that need work on my mini homestead. It's so lovely as it is though, I may not change a thing!

A New Reader

I see that someone is obsessively reading this old, rather uninteresting blog. It's rather flattering, though it reminds me why I don't like talking about my life. I enjoy posting, but there's not much I wish to share here anymore.

A Test

I've recently been trying to learn how to do SEO- search engine optimization. It seems like it could be a useful skill to have, especially if I can tinker around on here with it. I'm also learning a wee bit of coding, so maybe some of that will also make an appearance.

I also plan on making a new blog using Wordpress. That is supposedly easier to do SEO with. Guess I'll find out!